Means for opening cans



April 1965 H. w. KMERMAN MEANS FOR OPENING ems Filed Feb. 20, 1963 INVENTOR, //47w/4 14/1/7702'2/747/ BY fi e p 51 79w;

# @Pvzvr/sf United States Patent 6 3,176,871 1 I a/HANS FOR OPENiNG UANS Harold W. Imerinan, 1845? Sorrento Ave, Detroit, Mich- Filed Feb. 2%, 1953, Ser. No. 259,9tl4

9 Claims. (Cl. Mil-48) This invention relates to means for opening cans, and more particularly to manual key-type openers such as those attached to indivdual coffee or other household cans.

it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved can opening means which is quick and easy to operate and eliminates the need for first detaching the key from a separate location on a can and then reapplying it for opening purposes.

It is another object to provide an improved can opening means of this character which is especially adapted for hermetically sealed cans and will form a smooth lip on the lid which will interfit closely with the can rim after opening, thus providing protection for the can contents during continued use.

It is a further object to provide an improved can opening means having these characteristics, which will automatically maintain alignment of the key with the parting line of the metal during the cutting operation, thus eliminating the need for careful manipulation which ordinary twist-type keys require.

It is also an object to provide an improved can opening means of this nature in which there is no waste metal, and the key may be easily disposed of after use.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a can incorporating the novel opening means of this invention, the key being shown in its folded position before cutting;

FlGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of FlGURE l and showing the configuration of the key tracks and the shape of the can metal before cutting;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but with the key swung to its cutting position, showing the manner in which the cutting point penetrates the scored portion of the metal; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the position of the users hand as the key is pulled along the tracks during the opening process.

In general terms, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a can of cylindrical shape generally constructed like conventional hermetically sealed onepound coffee cans, with the cylindrical portions of both the body and lid being formed by a single shell of sheet metal, and a rim secured within the upper portion of the shell. A pair of parallel facing tracks are formed on the upper portion of the shell, the tracks extending continuously around the shell and being formed by doubling the sheet metal thereof. A key is provided in the form of a flat bar extending between and retained within the tracks and a finger ring mounted on the bar, the bar having a point which will penetrate a scored line between the tracks when the key is swung from a folded to a cutting position. The key may be pulled around the can, the point cutting the scored line until the lid portion of ddt'dfill Patented Apr. 6, 1965 the shell becomes separated from the body portion. The key may then be removed and discarded, and the lower edge of the lid will interfit with the rim as well asthe upper edge of the body when the can is closed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a can incorporating the invention is generally indicated at 11 and comprises a bottom 12, a top 13, a shell 14 and a rim 15, these parts being formed of appropriately treated sheet metal. Shell i4 is of cylindrical shape, and bottom 12 and top 13 are hermetically secured thereto by beads such as that indicated at 16 in FIGURES 2 and 3. Rim i5 is disposed within the upper portion of shell 14 and is also of generally cylindrical shape, having a slight indentation 17 at an intermediate portion thereof, and outer retaining bend 18 at the lower edge, and a bead 19 at the upper edge. Bead i9 is spaced a slight distance below top 13, for reasons which will hereinafter appear.

An upper track 2t! and a lower track 21 -are formed on shell 14 at the upper portion thereof. Each track is formed by doubling the sheet metal of the shell, and has a hook-shaped cross-sectional configuration as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the concaveor retaining surfaces 22 of the track facing each other. Outturned lower edge 18 of rim 15 is received by the groove formed'at the base of track 21, so that rim i5 is retained against vertical movement.

A scored portion 23 is formed in the outer surface of shell i4 midway between tracks 20 and 21, the cross section of the metal being reduced in this area and thereby weakened. The position of scored line 23 is opposite the indentation 17 in rim 15, and the diameter of the rim is slightly less above indentation 17 than it is below.

A key generally indicated at 24 is provided, the key having a construction shown best in FIGURES l and 3. Key 24 comprises a narrow bar 25 and a grasping ring 26 secured to bar 25 and extending to one side thereof. Bar 25 has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, the section being narrower in one direction than the other. When key 24 is in its folded position, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the narrower dimension of the bar cross section will be approximately radially aligned with respect to the can; this cross-sectional thickness is seen in FIGURE 2. When key 24 is swung to its cutting'position as seen in FIGURE 3, the wider sectional dimension of bar 25 will be approximately radially disposed with respect to can 11, as seen in FIGURE 3, or at least so inclined that the bar ends occupy substantially more space within the tracks than when the key is folded.

The length of bar 25 is such that it will be retained by tracks 29 and 21 when vertically disposed. A cutting point 27 is formed at the midpoint of the edge 28 of bar 25 opposite the edge 29 to which ring 26 is secured. The position of point 27 is opposite scored line 23, and the size of bar 25 is such that when it is swung to a cutting position such as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, point 27 will be forced into scored line 23 and penetrate the metal of shell 14%, tracks 2%) and 21 retaining bar 25 against outward movement due to the fact that the bar ends will fully occupy the spaces between the outer ends of the tracks and the main surface of the shell.

Ring 26 is of C-shaped construction, its ends being secured to edge 29 of bar 25, with the size of the ring bein sufilcient to ermit entr of a fin er 31 of the users hand. When in the folded position, as seen in FIGURE b in 26am o e la racks a thereby cre n a slight space between the central ring portion and the can so that finger 31 may be slipped under the ring.

In operation, finger 31 of the user will grasp ring 26 and rotate key 24 from the folded position of FIGURE 1 to the cutting position of FIGURES 3 or 4. In doing so, point 27 will be forced into scored line 23 and pierce shell 14, slightly separating the lid and body portions of the shell as indicated by the space having the reference numeral 32 in FIGURE 3. Inturned lips 33 and 34 immediately above and below space 32 respectively, may be formed by point 27, it being noted that identation 17 of 15,will permit this slight bending to take place. Key 24 then he'pulled around the entire periphery of can 11 and as this is done, point 27 will create a continuous cutat scored line 23, completely severing the portion of shell 14 above scored line 23 from that below the scored line, This will in effect create a can lid generally indicatedat 35. and a body generally indicated at 36 in FIG- URE 3. Lid 35 will consist of the upper portion of shell 14am top 13,.Whereas body 36will consist of the lower portion ,of shell 14, bottom 12 and rim 15.

' It should be observed that key 24 need not necessarily befrotated until the wider sectional dimension of bar 25 2. In combination, a sheet metal can having a cylindrical shell and a top and a bottom secured to said shell, track means on the outside of said shell extending around the periphery thereof, a key slidably mounted in said track means and movable from a folded position to a cutting position, a cutting portion on'said key, and coacting surfaces on said track means and said key responsive to movement of said key from its folded to its cutting position for causing said cutting portion to penetrate said shell and for maintaining said cutting portion in cutting engagement with said shell with said key in said cutting J position as said key is moved alongrsaid track means.

obtained; nor it is necessarily true that key 24 need be around can 11. By varying the angular position of key 24 withirespect to a radial plane passing through the can, thefric'tional drag of tracks 20 and 21 on bar 25 which counteracts. the pulling 'force exerted by the operators finger 31 may be-r'nirnimized, while still obtaining the necessary penetration of shell 14 by point 27. The shape of point 27 may also be varied to permit choice of an oppulling angle, such as is illustrated in FIGURE 4.

After the out has been completed, lid 35 may be lifted from body 36 by merely sliding it upwardly above rim 15. If necessary, key 24 may be rotated back to its folded position before lifting lid 35, so that its frictional contact with tracks '20 and 21 will not interfere with opening of the' can. When the can is opened, key 24 will drop from the tracks or may be easily'remo'ved carded. I

To 'rcclose the can, lid 35 need merely be slipped down oniim 15 until lip 33 engages lip 34. It should be noted that there will bea close fit between lip 33 and the outer surface of rimf 15, and that the slight space previously provided-between bead 19 of rim'15 and top 13.,Wlll. permit lid 35 to be moved down until lip 33 engages lip 34. A relatively tight seal will thus. be automatically provided forthe duration of use ofcan 11. This will be of value in prescrving the freshness of foodsuch as coffee which therefrom and dis- 3. In combination, a sheet metal can have a cylin-- drical shell and a top anda bottom secured to said shell, a cylindrical rim secured to the inside of said shell adjacent said top, a p-airof spaced parallel tracks formed on V the outside of said shell substantially at the level of said rim, a scored line extending around the outside of said shell between said tracks, a key comprising a bar having end portions disposed within said tracks and anintermediate cutting portion, a handle extending outwardly from said bar, the bar being swingable by said handle from a folded position to a cutting position, and coacting sur'.

' an upper portion spaced slightly inwardly from said shell,

the rim being formed with an indentation connecting said portions at the level of said scored line. I

5. The combination according to claim 3, each of said tracks being of hook-shaped cross section with the concave track surfaces facing each other, the tracks being formed by folds in the sheet metal of said shell.

when the key is in its folded position. 5 a

7. In combination, a sheetmetal can having a cylin-i drical shell and a top and bottom secured to said'shell, an

I upper and a lower track formed at the upper portion of maybecont'ained in the can. It should also be observed the 'itiv'ention'is susceptible to modification, variation and meaning of the subjoined claims.

What, is claimed is:

'1. In combination, a sheet metal can, a pair of spaced paralleltracksonthe outside of said can, a key comprising a bar retained by said tracks, a grasping portion on said ,.key,jthe key being rotatable by meansof said graspiiig portion about an axis extending parallel to! said bar between a fblded position and av cutting position, and a cutting portionon said key, the bar being so proportioned W respect to-said tracks that said cutting portion will change'withoutdeparting from the proper scope or fair penetrate said shell in response to rotation of said key a from its folded position to its cutting position.

said shell, each track'having a hook-shaped cross section and being formed by doubling the sheet metal ofsaid shell, the concaversurfaces'of said tracks facing'e'ach other, the tracks beingin spaced parallel relation and extending around the periphery of said can, a scored portion on the outer surface of said shell between said tracks, a generally cylindrical sheet metal rim' secured within the upper portion of said shell, the lower portion of said'rim being in engagement with the inner surface ofsaid shell, the upper portion of said rim being spaced slightly inwardly from said shell, an annular indentation in said n'rn at the level of said scored portion and forming the connection between said upper and low 7 er rim portions, 2; key comprisng a bar having its ends disposed within the confines of said tracks, arcutting point onan intermediate portion of one edge of said bar, and a handle secured to the opposite edge of said bar and .extending outwardly therefrom, the key being swin'gable about an axis parallel to said bar between-a folded position in which said handle rests against, said tracks and a cutting position in which said handle is swung outwardly from said tracks, the proportions of saidbar ends relative to said tracks being such thatmovement of said key to 1ts cutting position will cause said cutting point topene- .trate said scored'line. I

8. In combination, a container having a' cylindrical shell surface and atop surface and a bottom surface secured to saidsshell 'surface, track means on one of said surfaces, a key slidably mounted in said track means;

and movable from a folded position toa cutting position,

a cutting-portion in said key, and coaoting surfaces on said track means and saidkey responsive to movement of said key from its folded to its cutting position for caus ing said cutting portion to penetrate through said one of said surfaces and for maintaining said cutting portion in cutting engagement with said one of said surfaces with said key in said cutting position as said key is moved along said track means.

9. In combination, a container having a cylindrical shell surface and a top surface and a bottom surface secured to said shell surface, track means on one of said surfaces, a scored line in said one of said surfaces extending parailelly relative to said track means, a key slidably mounted in said track means and movable from a folded position to a cutting position, a cutting portion on said key, and coacting surfaces on, said track means and said key responsive to movement of said key from its folded to its cutting position for causing said cutting portion to engage said scored line and to penetrate through said one of said surfaces and for maintaining said cutting portion in cutting engagement with said one of said surfaces at said scored line with said key in said cutting position as said key is moved along said track means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION, A SHEET METAL CAN, A PAIR, OF SPACED PARALLEL TRACKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CAN, KEY COMPRISING A BAR RETAINED BY SAID TRACKS, A GRASPING PORTION ON SAID KEY, THE KEY BEING ROTATABLE BY MEANS OF SAID GRASPING PORTION ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID BAR BETWEEN A FOLDED POSITION AND A CUTTING POSITION, AND A CUTTING PORTION ON SAID KEY, THE BAR BEING SO PROPORTIONED WITH RESPECT TO SAID TRACKS THAT SAID CUTTING PORTION WILL PENETRATE SAID SHELL IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID KEY FROM ITS FOLDED POSITION TO ITS CUTTING POSITION. 